Watching the Dog Whisperer solved my dog's barking problem!

I gotta share this with everybody! Because of the forum, and you guys talking about the Dog Whisperer, I ordered the National Geographic Channel from my cable company since it wasn't included in the channel package I had (it was the best $4. I've ever spent).
I got lucky, yesterday was the episode I've been waiting for. It was about dogs that BARK. There have been several posts (Dog Barking) on here. This is the solution!!!
The Dog Whisperer, Cesar, had curtailed a sheltie from barking at the vaccum sweeper, blowdryer, and in the car. He solved it in about 5 minutes flat. He stated that it is natural for a herding dog to bark at moving things, then demonstrated what to do.
I immediately tried the technique with my OES. IT WORKED!!!!!
I WAS STUNNED! I never would have thought to have tried what he did, it really is so simple. I did it in about 5 minutes too!
I have tried voice commands (wrong), shock collar (wrong), treats (wrong). It is all about non-verbal except for a "shhhhh", body language, and reading your dog. AMAZING!

Good Morning Ron,
It's Kim. I just posted the Dog Whisperer but it posted it under "guest".

I guess there is a problem with the log in. I logged in and tried to post the topic above and it would not let me, I tried several times. I finally had to check the box that said I was not logged in so it posted it as a guest.
Then I tried to send you a PM and it still said that I was not logged in (I was).

This was the only way I could think of to reach you.

Kim, Please don't keep us in suspense. What did you do? Pleeeeeze!!!

Yes I'd like to hear how you did it too....

ME TOO!

Me three!

Kimmmmmmmmmmmmmm? I've got Jack who has to tell me how to dish up the food twice a day............help! Post the answer!

It's Kim again... I'm still having problems with posting under my name. I just wrote a reply and it wouldn't allow me to post, I had to re-log in and I lost all of it. Bummer as I didn't cut and paste it. I had to cool down before I rewrote it. So this is probably posted under "guest" again.
Help, Ron!

It’s better if you can actually see the Dog Whisperer demonstrate it. I would have never even imagined that this would have worked. It is relatively simple. He uses no verbal commands except for the sound of “SHHHHHH”, he combines body language and reads the dogs behavior.
I’ll try to explain it...for example; if your dog barks at your blow dryer...
Stand with your blow dryer in your hand with it in the off mode. Look at your dog, if he is focused on the blow dryer, correct him with a forceful “SHHHHH”, walk towards your dog and point at him. You want him to back up as this is submissive behavior. Wait until your dog relaxes. When he does, turn on your blow dryer. If he barks or runs towards it, again say “SHHHHH” in a command, point at him and walk towards him. You repeat this until he complies. It only took one time for my dog to get it. I really don’t understand why, but the Dog Whisperer says that you are changing his focus. He says nothing to the dog, not even a “good boy”.
The same technique goes for the sweeper and the car.
It really is better if you can see him demonstrate it. The episode should be repeated this week.

Do do you know what the dog is learning?

This is a great way to make the dog more afraid of the blow-dryer, and untrustful of the handler. What is does is make the dog understand that when the blow-dryer is around his owner goes a little nuts, so best avoid the whole scenerio.

If that is how someone wants to teach there dog, so be it. I would rather take the time to de-sensitise the dog to the blow-dryer so he is comfortable with it, and maybe even like it. And my having to scare him does not enter into the equation.

Kim again.
NO, Not at all, my dog is simply disinterested in the blow dryer. He did not even notice it today at all.
If you have seen the Dog Whisperer, I have no doubt that you would also commend his techniques.

Kim . . . I have just started watching The Dog Whisperer (Cesare Milan) in the last couple of weeks. I caught the same episode on Friday night with the barking dog in the car and with the blow dryer. I am just amazed at his technique. The dog is not frightened of him at all . . . he seems to put the dog into a relaxed state of mind.

One episode that I was totally amazed with was the dog that was deathly afraid of men. Cesar entered the room, paying no attention at all to the dog. He sat and talked with the female owner, and seems within five minutes the dog was pawing at Cesar's arm for attention. The normal fear of the dog of men was not present at all.

I don't see any abuse in his training techniques at all .... and it seems to work very quickly. He is quite in tune with the animals. I hope the above poster can catch a few of the episodes.

I'm on the east coast and the Dog Whisperer comes on at 10:00 p.m. tonight (5-14-06), on the National Geographic channel.

Note: I misspelled his name above . . . it is Cesar Milan

Yikes! MY apologies for posting three times in a row ...... I looked at the TV guide wrong . . . it comes on tomorrow morning at 10:00 a.m.

Nobody has the ability to do miracles with fixing problem dog behavior. It is not the show or the individual that I have concerns and doubts about. It is the techniques overall that are used by many so-called trainers and behaviorists. Approaching and pointing at a dog is perceived to be threatening by the dog. When a dog is threatened he will either fight or submit in that particular situation.

Putting a dog into a submissive position does not make the dog submissive. When you watch wrestlers on TV, when one can overpower another one, does that mean the one on the bottom is submissive? Hardly.
Or when a school teacher screams at the students and they are suddenly all quiet, does that make them respective and submissive? Hardly. They think the teacher is unstable and may make fun of the teacher later at recess.

If someone had a blow-torch and you were telling them to put it away, and you got told off and put into the corner, would that make you more comfortable with the blow-torch? You may stop telling them to put it away, but you would feel misunderstood and maybe stop trying to communicate. But you would not feel better about the blow-torch.

There are postiive techniques, and there are techniques that are called positive but aren't. Anything that scarres or hurts a dog is not a positive technique so does not follow the modern and proven training methods.

A quicker fix would be to slap an electronic collar on the dog and zap it everytime it barks. A much higher level of harshness, but the same type of method and the same result. The dog better not do '''blank'''' or else. BTW, this is NOT something that I would ever suggest to do, but am just using that scenrio to make a point.

I hardly think it is the same thing comparing dog behavior to human
behavior. CM does positive training, but positive reinforcement doesn't
necessarily mean gushing over the dog, oohing and aaahing and petting.
Teaching a dog the bad behavior is unwanted and giving a positive
message to the dog when the dog stops the behavior is certainly
the kind of tool that seems to work best.
I don't see a problem!

Shellie

isn't Cesar Milan's training facility being sued right now for putting a dog on a treadmill and almost killing it? I agree - the technique he talks about for barking is just a really good way to make your dog afraid. Ava used to be afraid of the dryer and the vaccumm but all we did was sit on the floor with each appliance and turn them off and on - eventually she got used to it.

I don't think it's fair to assume that Cesar Milan is guilty just because he's being sued. The only story released is from the side of the person suing so it naturally would be incriminating.

I think Shellie hit the nail on the head. You don't have to shower a dog with treats and affection for a good behavior-- that's a very human thing to do. Dogs can learn consequences. As in the barking episode, Cesar stopped the dog from barking by shutting down the unwanted behavior with a "shhh" and a touch each time it began. The dog realized that when it stopped barking, he could avoid that consequence from his pack leader. The dog wasn't hurt and the unwanted behavior stopped. I think you have to understand and embrace Cesar's methods as whole to understand why it works in the long run. It isn't a magic solution that fixed everything overnight. It stopped in the episode but it something that has to be consistently repeated until the behavior stops.

Cesar's methods aren't for everyone just as many other behaviorists' and trainers' methods don't work for every situation either. Every dog is different and responds better to different things.

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Ava used to be afraid of the dryer and the vaccumm but all we did was sit on the floor with each appliance and turn them off and on - eventually she got used to it.

A perfect example of what works for one dog and not the other is that doing that worked for you. We did that with Clyde and it did nothing. He wasn't just scared, he'd get enraged so everytime we turned it on and off again, it seemed to stress him out more. After almost a year of him going nuts (crazy barking, biting the vacuum, flying leap attacks at the vacuum resulting in almost knocking me down) we saw the CM episode, (and it was the same episode as the barking dogs and the other problem that the dogs had coincidentally) and we watched him "own the space" that the vacuum cleaner was in. He'd get in between the vacuum and the dog and walk the dog back out of the area and sit him down and resume vacuuming. If the dog came in the area again, he'd walk him right back. We tried it with Clyde and it was the only thing that worked. Every once in awhile, he'll sneak a bark and we just do the same thing again: walk him out the area and sit him down. He's not scared, but he's learned to respect the space around the vacuum as mine. I can't argue with that!

To echo Shellie and Jill, you have to understand what you are doing and why you are doing it when training dogs. To just mimic what someone does without fulling understanding why can have negative consequences.
You have to make sure that whatever training method you choose to use with your dogs you understand why you are doing what you are doing. No program using a negative reinforcement, ie. hitting, chain yanking or yelling is going to do anyone any good.
No one is a miracle worker but I do think that Cesar Milan does good work. I don't see many training programs, and we've been through A LOT, doing any training to stop dogs from escalating behaviors. Most try to change or correct problems once it's gotten to a completely uncontrollable, crazy point. If we learn what the little triggers and clues our dogs have we can learn to change their behavior before it gets to the pioint of jumping on us full force or barking uncontrollably every time the doorbell rings.
An ounce of prevention, etc. etc.

I wonder if these so called "modern" and "positive" techniques that you constantly speak of Bosley's mom from your high place would also work on fat overweight humans to curb their obsessive behaviors. Just a thought i had...i dunno.

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would also work on fat overweight humans to curb their obsessive behaviors. Just a thought i had...i dunno.

Read a book called Don't Shoot the Dog by Karen Pryor. A bit of committment and a will to change would do it.

Just like training techiniques.

Having read all this is to say the least a bit confusing - Ok, so whatever happened to us being the boss and the dog knowing it - that i am all for. I mean I cuddle ollie and kiss him - but he knows when i play and he knows when not to, but I do that with the sound of my voice, i don't shout at him, I just deepen my voice and it works - or and this always works, a quick short sharpe ah-ah and he stops.

I guess though at the end of the day, its whatever works for you - although i am gonna try the hoover thing tonight, just to see.

CRJB wrote:

I wonder if these so called "modern" and "positive" techniques that you constantly speak of Bosley's mom from your high place would also work on fat overweight humans to curb their obsessive behaviors. Just a thought i had...i dunno.

Hey! Without my obsessive behaviors, then all I'd have left is fat and overwieght!

Bosley's mom wrote:

Or when a school teacher screams at the students and they are suddenly all quiet, does that make them respective and submissive? Hardly. They think the teacher is unstable and may make fun of the teacher later at recess.

I disagree with this. I've had perfectly stable teachers who are even tempered but us kids were being overly disruptive and not responding to her or him and then they would yell (out of character) and we would all be quiet (not thinking the teacher is unstable...just shocked at what we drove her to).

Nicole, you yourself said that you have never seen any of Cesar Milan's methods in person (ie t.v) but you regularly blast them. I think they don't sound particularly cruel, and if they solve a problem a person is having with their dog, then good for them. There's more than one way to do something, and each way might be the right way to do it.

I admit that I am not a CM follower, as many people here appear to be. I haven't seen his show, and frankly, I have nothing to say about him at all.
But many people are ready to run out and try things he has done without ever seeing the show. Just by "hearing" what was done.

I watch ER and does that mean that I know how to do surgery? Hardly, and I realize it is a show. It is entertainment...It makes money from rating. How realisitic is it? Ask a real nurse or a real doctor. It might be a very good portrayal of a real ife situation, or maybe not. But I wouldn't take anything that I see on TV as the be-all and end-all. I will continue to go to my family doctor for medical advise.

I comment on the "methods" that I hear and read that are used. I have not heard or read anything that CM does that has not been around for years and years. Nothing new...nothing earth-shattering....The methods are still around and being used in different ways by trainers all over the country...just not on TV. Some methods that trainers use are good and some are not. A trainer or behaviorist who uses positive methods is using the most modern ways that have been proven effective by research and promoted by animal behaviorists. Positive means exactly that...a positive experience for the dog. If the dog is not enjoying it then it is not positive. It may not be cruel, but it is not positive.

Dogs are not trying to take over the world. They are trying to survive in a crazy world with human rules they do not understand or even know exit. How we learn to live with them is up to us. We can choose to intimidate them into obeying, or punish them for behaving like a dog, or bully them into submission. Or we can learn to understand them and why they behave in a certain manner and work WITH them to change.

Often dogs are forced into going by human rules when they have not been shown what those rules are. And is it right to punish a dog for behaving in a manner that it had previously been trained to act? Without getting into a dog's mind and understanding why they react the way nonone has any idea on the basis of the behavior. Nobody. Genetics, breed, expereinces, temperatment, prior training all play a great part in why a dog does what he does. Scaring and hurting a dog so he or she stops doing it is just not right. Not when there are better ways.

Bosley's mom wrote:

I admit that I am not a CM follower, as many people here appear to be. I haven't seen his show, and frankly, I have nothing to say about him at all. But many people are ready to run out and try things he has done without ever seeing the show. Just by "hearing" what was done.

Similar to people who say things against him but have never watched the show or read his book? I don't see the difference. It's all hearsay no matter what side you take.

Maybe I am misunderstanding Bosley's mom, but are you
saying that CM is scaring, hurting, or punishing dogs? That has
never been my understanding at least.
I know it is a TV show and we can't get a complete picture in one
hour or 1/2 hour show. I don't think anyone actually thinks these
problems are solved in 1/2 hour. But we are not talking about
heart surgery here either. We are simply talking about changing
unwanted behaviors in our dogs. Something we can apply to
our lives, like one of the DIY shows.

Shellie

Well just writing back this morning to say the pointing trick works, ollie stopped barking at the hoover, but I did praise him after witha little ear tickle.

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Maybe I am misunderstanding Bosley's mom, but are you saying that CM is scaring, hurting, or punishing dogs?

I'm not sure as I have never seen the show or read any of his books. I have read comments about him and his techcniques here on this forum. I have also been involved in some discussions on his techniques on dog training and behavior modification lists, and and on other forums.

My point is that positive training methods are proven to be the most sucessful, and obviously the most humane. They may take more time in some cases, and less time in others. Then I will go on to say that positive methods do not involve intimidation, or pain. Scaring a dog is as simple as throwing a can of pennies at it. Not positive. Pain is as simple as using a jerk on the leash to make him walk nice. This is called "leash-popping" and is not used in a positive training program.

People have to decide what kind of relationship is desired with their canine pal. I do not believe that a person has to "be the boss" to control or train thier dog. I also do not believe being all touchy feely and kissy with the dog is needed, either. Hey, some dogs don't even like that.

You can decribe a scenerio to me and I can tell you if it is a positive method or not. It is quite simple. If the dog enjoys it, or does not get hurt, frightened or intimidated, it is positive.

He will be on Oprah on Monday May 22....I believe working with Nate's dogs.

I like what he does, how he owns the space...and feel it would be best to keep opinions to one's self if you don't know how he is using the methods. Watch him before slamming him. Geesh

If Oprah believes in him, I take her opinion seriously because she would not endorse something that would be controversial. Putting millions of people and their dogs in danger.

JMO

Well said!

The presumption that one has to actually see something to have a valid opinion is pretty judgemental of the visually impaired. TV is not where I get my information. I watch about 2 to 3 hours of TV a week because I do not care for the sensationalism and the commercials, and the biased presentation by this particular media to make their money. I listen to the radio for news, and read books and papers. Schools use books and libraries and the internet for research.

I have never seen war, and don't watch war moves, yet have an informed opinion. I have never seen children raped, yet have an opinion. I have never seen a staged dog-fight yet believe they are wrong and hurt the dogs.

Just because I dug deeper into something that didn't sound right TO ME and find out that things are not quite as they seem doesn't mean I am not entitled to an opinion. It may not be the popular one, but it is mine.

I have read about Oprah's prior experiences with CM and it was the same old... same old Band-aid solution to a real problem. She is not about to slam a celebrity that she has already endorsed.... And she knows nothing about animal behavior and who to hire to help her. The whole scenerio is good for ratings, but bad for dogs.

Oprah has been asked over and over again, petitions signed and sent to her to do a story on puppy mills and it is not happening. Why? That would do a lot more good for dogs, but would probably cause a backlash from the millers. Not good for publicity.

It is all TV...entertainment.....enjoy it all you want, but it is the dogs that will suffer as a result....In my opinion....

Oprah has no obligation or reason to do a story on puppy mills, etc. I can't imagine her not doing a story because of a backlash. She's Oprah. If she stands by something, she is NOT the type to worry about the media. If that's not something she's felt compelled to air or have a story on... then it's her right. She can't always be a God nor is she the Devil (or just wrong) if she decides not to "continuously" campaign against puppymills. She's already in (with both feet) on 100 other projects that have not just opened the eyes of her enormous audience, but the entire US. She's literally changing the lives of people in many foreign countries ....not to mention the lives of many in Louisiana.

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She is not about to slam a celebrity that she has already endorsed...

I think you have to know a little more about her before you can say that. I hope I can safely assume you don't? Again, she has no problem coming on national television and saying "i was wrong, .......do not watch or support so-and-so.." or "why did you deceive the public esp. after i endorsed you." Those who do watch her know she in fact.. recently did this in regards to an author who fabricated his "true" life stories.

I really just wanted to post to say I'll be watching CM on Oprah!!! I was thrilled to hear he was going to be on soon! I definitely agree that if her researchers every found some bad dirt on CM, she'd make sure it was known and not support him.

My opinion, as if anyone really wants it but

You glean from any professional trainer what you feel is the best approach in your own situation and disregard the rest. I've watched Cesar's dvd and read part of the book highlighting in green what I liked best. One thing to remember is this guy has dealt with the extremes... dogs that bite... and has (at least so far) "rehabilitated" them. You never know until the dog dies if it was 100% successful. He mentions two in his book that he could not help and are forever kept by their owners as outcasts of society.

I don't watch much TV either so I don't see Oprah's program but I've seen a couple of episodes of The Dog Whisperer. I agree that these are just small blips from the training process and his work with the owners but it shows that behavioral issues can be changed.

I like how he mentions in his book that with a huge pack not a day passes that someone doesn't get into "mischief"... that he, as the pack leader, is responsible for stopping the behavior before it gets to be a problem. WE have done this... watching for the visual cues that precipitate a snit in our pack. It really does help to curb confrontations within the pack.

And he also believes that exercise is one of the most important things you can give your dog. Leash walks at least 1/2 hour per day... not just play in the backyard. I've got to work more on that area!

And, yes, I can see possible problems if someone tries an approach without knowledge of the actual process. I remember as a kid seeing the Purina Dog Chow commercials on TV... the kid was hugging his/her dog. Sigh... I thought that was sooo neat. So I tried to hug our cranky old dog and he let me know that he hadn't seen the commercial So people inexperienced with dogs could possibly try to do things that could lead to trouble.

Anyway, you take what you feel is best and discard the rest. No one will ever be 100% right about everything.

I love watching the Cesar's show, and believe that there is alot to be learned from the show and his book.

However...

Watching his show to learn how to train your dog is just like watching a cooking show and expecting to be able to create the same dish as easily as it was done on tv. Not going to happen. It takes alot of practice and learning experiences to accomplish either.

Hopefully most people understand this while watching, and realize that the "miracle" that Cesar performs during the show takes alot more work than we actually see.

Amanda

Hey Amanda, I think you hit the nail on the head with that analogy.

Bosley's mom wrote:

The presumption that one has to actually see something to have a valid opinion is pretty judgemental of the visually impaired. . .

I think you are a bit offbase with that comment because no one is suggesting that a visually impaired person could not glean something by listening to the show or having the book read aloud.

What you seem to be saying is that it is possible to form a valid and informed opinion of Cesar's methods by not watching, listening or reading him directly. Rather, everything you know is filtered by someone else who has told it to you or has written about him. In my view, that simply means you have an informed opinon about is what other people have said about his methods.

With respect to those who are visually impaired, I do believe that they miss something important by being unable to see the behaviors Cesar and his participants are exhibiting. That's why many organizations have been working on video description services for visually impaired people.

Even with video description, the information would be filtered because what one person describes as a nudge another might describe as a kick. We all form opinions based on imperfect information. I would not be content to base my opinions simply on what other people have said or written. If you would just watch the program, you will find plenty of concrete details with which to denounce him and I will be unable to say you are uninformed.

My mom called to remind me that CM was on Oprah today. My mom who never watches CM or O ...loved it. I was disappointed because it was nothing like his show (a full lesson). I demand more AIR time for CM next time. Signed...angry but faithful O-watcher.

"visually impaired"?? What the hell happened to just calling it like it is.....

You mean f'n blind?

Well that wouldn't be very PC now would it. Especially coming from a Lawyer!

HEY HEY HEY! Guess what I just found out a few minutes ago!?! Cesar Millan's Dog Whisperer first season is being released on DVD today!

Cesar Millan's first year on the National Geographic Channel as The Dog Whisperer. The whole first year is in this DVD set, and the Amazon price is very good compared to the National Geographic Channel's price! (They get $69.99+S&H online; Ceasar Millan's company is offering it only as part of a set with his other DVD; the combined price plus shipping is just about the same as if you bought them separately about $75 plus s&h. Amazon is just under $49 plus it probably qualifies for free shipping!)
Dog Whisperer With Cesar Millan - The Complete First Season (2004) DVD Box Set

Please do not buy this solely to benefit oes.org; but if you're in the market, I *think* this is a good price!